Bradford City: Bantams need a motormouth

Published:09:31Updated:09:32Monday 17 January 2011

Jason Price insists Bradford City players need to start finding their voices to give them something worth shouting about in 2010-11.

The much-travelled Welshman, who returned to parent club Carlisle United last week after a three-month loan stint at Valley Parade, feels City's first-team pool possess plenty of talent, but require a few motormouths to help to bring out the best in them.

Seven of the players who trudged off at the final whistle following last Saturday's limp 3-1 home loss to relegation-haunted Barnet were 23 or under, with veteran frontman Price of the view that some on-pitch shrills from a few been-around-the-block sergeant-major type figures would aid their cause.

Ex-Doncaster Rovers and Hull City favourite Price, who turns 34 in April, said: "They maybe need some experience as there's not many talkers in the team – although they are a good side.

"By that, I mean on the pitch. Off the pitch, I'll have a laugh, but in the changing rooms I'm as quiet as a mouse before the game and don't mess around. I am not one for shouting: 'Come on'!

"However, as soon as I get out on that pitch, I'll shout at everybody.

"That's the only thing that I noticed because the team is really good. They just need somebody to tell them stuff on the pitch."

Now back in Cumbria, Price is currently treading a familiar path in his have-boots-will-travel nomadic career, namely looking for a new club.

The striker was one of seven players on loan or short-term contracts whose deals expired with the Bantams at the start of the new year and despite enjoying himself immensely at the club under his old Hull boss

Peter Taylor and proving popular with team-mates and supporters alike, an agreement couldn't be reached to extend his time in West Yorkshire.

Price doesn't envisage returning to City, his ninth professional club, in the future, but says he has no hard feelings.

Out of contract in the summer after penning a 12-month deal at Carlisle, Price, who played for three clubs last season – Millwall, Oldham Athletic and the Cumbrians – is preparing himself for life out of a suitcase once again at another stop-off point in his long career.

Price's motor clocked up plenty of miles last term after his switch from Millwall to far-flung loan destinations up north at Boundary Park and Brunton Park and more of the same is likely again.

The striker is down the pecking order at Carlisle and has had to survive on playing scraps at United this term after earning a one-year deal following his haul of four goals in nine matches for Greg Abbott's troops at the back end of 2009-10.

He is currently waiting to see where his next port of call is with a renaissance in Cumbria or a return to Bradford unlikely.

Price said: "I'm back at Carlisle, but I think I'll be back out on loan somewhere.

"I don't think I'll be going back (to Bradford). It's all a bit

complicated with the loan (system).

"Both sides tried, but just couldn't come to an agreement.

"Somewhere else on loan is my aim now and I've got all my stuff in the

boot of my car and my clothes on the back of my seats – I don't have any leg room!

"I'll have to just wait until I get some calls, although my agent is on the case as is my gaffer (Abbott).

"I've got a job until the summer, so I'm not panicking just yet."

Price, who joined the Bantams in October, may have struck the net just once in 11 appearances in the claret-and-amber, but he will look back at his time at Valley Parade with fondness. With one exception.

Highlights included playing his part in fine wins – home and away over promotion-seeking Bury and a cameo in the 5-0 home drubbing of Oxford United – and while his goal tally was meagre, his hold-up play and industry was appreciated by Taylor and team-mates alike.

The City boss even handed the captain's armband to Price in one game, but his pride in being named skipper – incredibly City's seventh this term – was dented somewhat with a 4-0 festive defeat at Cheltenham Town on December 28.

Price quipped: "I won't forget that in a hurry. All my family and especially my brother have been hammering me since!"